Page 48 of Tempt Her

He sure does.

Trick #5:I bent his putter just enough to make sure he never gets it in the hole.

Pun intended.

Gentry screeches out of the drive in his BMW, and I let the painting crew in with a smile. The cameras capture them starting their job. Prepping the upstairs, they begin in the first guest bedroom opposite the house from the primary bedroom. There are five bedrooms, four baths, a laundry room, and a bonus room upstairs. So many walls that need paint as much as I need Luke.

A fresh start. A fresh look. Something bright to cover up all that’s sullied my life for so long.

I play it off, making muffins in the kitchen, trying to ignore the race of my pulse, knowing that Luke is upstairs. Mateo too.

God, they looked so tempting today. Who knew I had a painter’s pants fetish? And they smell so good, too. Their colognes practically have me in a sex-crazed trance.

I want to go up there so badly, but I know better, especially with how Ford keeps stalking through my kitchen without a word, going out to their van for more plastic and tape. When he huffs back in, he won’t even look at me.

But I’m feeling bold. I want to play with fire.

As he tries to charge through the kitchen again like I’m not here, I ask, “Want a muffin?”

He stops. His jaw tics while indecision presses his broad shoulders down.

Is he going to be a dick again or be polite?

“Thank you,” he barely replies as my lungs lift at his approach.

I can’t deny how sexy Ford is. More than Mateo or Luke, power is harnessed in his every muscle, the steel of his eyes, and his perfectly groomed, dark beard.

My god, the man is in charge of every molecule around him. He pulls at you. He’s like a walking covalent bond (as my mom taught me), the strongest bond nature can form.

You can’t resist him.

I try to forget how he made me cry. How his honesty was so brutal. I don’t know if I believe Mateo, that Ford’s trying to protect me too. It’s obvious he’s protecting Luke, that he cares for him. I guess he’s like a son to him, and that’s why he’s such a dick to me, not approving of the feelings Luke and I share.

Well, okay. Feelings and fucks.

I hand him a muffin in a decorative strawberry wrapper. Those were my mom’s favorites. I do everything I can to keep her memory alive for my dad and me.

“Thanks for taking this job again,” I say as our fingertips brush while he takes my muffin without a smile. “I don’t trust anyone but y’all to be here.”

I let my eyes tell him,You’re right. I am trapped in a dangerous marriage, and I know it’s risky for anyone who helps me get out.

Ford peels off the wrapper, studying the muffin while he rumbles, “I apologize for my brashness in the past. I only want to protect my men.”

“I understand. I don’t want them hurt either.”

He finishes the muffin, swallowing it in three hungry bites while his icy eyes devour me too.

I can’t tell by the look in them if he wants to spin me around and shove me out the door. Or bend me over while he grabs my hair, bowing my back so hard while he gets very brash with my pussy.

Yes, please, and dammit. He’s too hot to act so cold.

The tension between us burns like dry ice on my flesh. It makes him lower his chin, his glare pinning me down, demanding, “You’ll stay away from my men.” It’s like he’s on top of me. Like he’s in charge. “You won’t hurt them.” Driving hard inside me with his stare, he’s dominating and thrusting out any notion I may have not to obey him. “You’ll leave them alone. You understand?”

They’re not questions; they’re orders.

But I surprise us both at how much I like defying him. I’m thrilled, not scared, answering, “No.”

I make him so mad, he smiles. “So you’re a beauty queenanda siren? You’re going to lure my men to their deaths.”

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